People often say that the difference between the two sets of fans is Sunderland fans see the glass as half-empty; Newcastle fans as half-full.

While bitter experience has taught the Mackems to expect the worst; for the Geordies, one win after six defeats would mean a challenge for the Champions League is on.

But even their perennial and usually misplaced optimism has been strained to the limits this season by the goings-on in the corridors of power.

Having a middle-aged, portly Essex man as your owner is bad enough; having him pictured in the stands with his Newcastle United shirt straining against his girth is even worse for the national image.

And if those photographs gave the impression that the club was becoming a rich man's plaything, then it was an impression reinforced when Mike Ashley (pictured) and his board removed Sam Allardyce halfway through the season after giving him little time to put his own stamp on the club.

Big Sam felt he never got a fair crack of the whip either from the media, the fans or the board, but he hadn't realised the weight of expectations which is placed on the shoulders of any manager at Tyneside.

For Sam, the die was cast when his club made an instant exit from the Carling Cup at the hands of Arsenal's children back in September – the one competition he had identified as winnable this season.

Despite making their best start to a season in over a decade, the Magpies began to fall away and Allardyce's value fell in equal measure.

Time and patience is in short supply from the Geordie public when it comes to their managers delivering.

And yet they showed infinite patience with Allardyce's replacement, Kevin Keegan, who took over in the New Year.

The national hysteria and bed-wetting from the media – Sky Sports in particular – was embarrassing to watch as people who should know better went all gooey-eyed about a story which essentially boiled down to: "failed manager takes over mid-table team".

Keegan 2008 looks nothing like the Keegan of 1992 who took Newcastle to heights not seen in well over half-a-century.

He's a good man, but he looks weary and fragile and his condition didn't improve as Newcastle got away to a catastrophic start under him.

It took him 10 games to win a match and, along the way, his side conceded six and then five to Manchester United, three to Arsenal (twice) and four to Aston Villa.

At least as far as the Sunderland public were concerned, the Entertainers were back!

There have been signs, though, that he is beginning to turn things around – three wins and a draw in the last four games have effectively banished relegation fears this season.

Europe anyone?